From the coast up in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, comes my personal comic book blog, primarily related to comic books, as well as movies, books and television. BeachBumComics blog can also be found on Facebook & Pinterest.

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

After his incredible Warlock epic at Marvel, Jim Starlin produced several stories for the pages of Warren Publications' Eerie magazine, beginning with issue #76, Jim Starlin's Darklon the Mystic appeared in only five issues(not counting a reprint of "...The Price" in #137) #76, #79, #80, #84, & #100. Making enough of an impression, they were collected and reprinted, in
color this time, by Pacific Comics a few years later., probably due in part to many of the
themes and situations being revamped and reused in Starlin's early
works for Epic Comics, namely Metamorphosis Odyssey & Dreadstar.

Eerie #76"Beware Darklon, the Mystic"
A tall stranger, wearing a cape and an eye patch, notices Koph-Fan seems to be
suffering from a great amount of fear and asks the weary Alphan to tell
him what's the cause of his trepidation.

Eerie #79"...the Price" Plagued by assassins allegedly hired by his
father, Darklon is compelled to return to Nebularia. Despite the fact
that it has been many years since he has seen the floating city of
Nebulor, the sight of it rekindles painful memories. He reflects on the
mutual hatred between his father and himself after his mother died. He
also recalls how Blacklore became a substitute son for the Kavar until
Blacklore plotted the overthrow of Darkhold. Darkhold (Darklon's father) how he fled to
make a deal with the Nameless One to acquired the power he needed to
defeat his enemies.

A nice Ken Kelly piece!

Eerie #80"Retribution" Darklon's origin story Chapter Two of two parts. .
The Nameless One ordered his minions to continue initiating Darklon through what the former called a "black baptism and rebirth.

Always fantastic to have a Frank Frazetta coveer!

Eerie #84 "He Who Waits In Shadow" Darklon the Mystic enters an apartment, looking for Jim Starlin. He asked about
how the creator was going to get him out of the situation the
involved him with his father.

Eerie #100 "Duel"Darklon grand finale as he and his father battle across the psionic realm.

Darklon also appeared in the Warren timeline, in Eerie #121 & 130, although not presented by Jim Starlin.

Darklon
was Starlin at his wildest. The stories were like fever dreams
(inspired by the trials and tribulations Starlin was suffering through
at the time, including his father dealing with cancer) filled with
self-loathing and despair.

Eerie #130 Throwing Darklon into the mix of the Warren timeline!

The art was fantastic, with great savage, graphic, brooding layouts and, as always with Jim Starlin, quite thought
provoking material.

Michael Golden layed the groundwork in the first episode of this story arc, inked by Dick Giordano.
This issue features Batman illustrated by Jim Starlin & P. Craig Russell, Don (The Avengers) Heck on Batgirl as well as a Bat-Mite story drawn by Michael Golden.

Howard Chaykin on Human Target!

Detective Comics #483"Return to Castle Branek" Baron Tyme (we last saw him in Ditko's Man-Bat #1) holds the Eternity Book and forces the Demon (Etrigan, alias Jason Blood)to lead him to Merlin's tomb. He opens it and finds it empty.In this issue we have Batman drawn by Don Newton, Howard (Cody Starbuck) Chaykin on Human Target

Detective Comics #484"Tyme Has No Secrets"The Baron's and the Demon's battle over
Merlin's tomb is interrupted by Stavik and the locals. The Baron flees
while the Demon recovers the Eternity Book.Don Newton again illustrates Batman, Dick Giordano on Human Target & a Batman villains pin-up drawn by Jim (Prankster) Aparo.

Bronze Tiger appearance!

Detective Comics #485"The Fatal Finale"Baron Tyme tries to siphon energy from the Demon Etrigan, but Jason Blood's friends and a magic mirror put an end to Baron
Tyme. Meanwhile Abner Beckermann has discarded the Eternity Book and it
is found by a janitor.
Includes aMan Bat story & Batman/Batwoman story illustrated by the great Don Newton with Don Heck drawing a Batgirl story and wriapping up with a Dick Giordano Batgirl/Robin pin-up.
The Bronze Tiger, from the Richard Dragon series, appears in the Batman story.

Thankfully, The Demon stories have been reprinted in The Steve Ditko Omnibus #2. Can't say enough good things about this lavish hardcover edition.

Friday, June 26, 2015

Marvel Comics Master of Kung Fu & Star Wars are the stuff of comic book legend, certainly a couple of my all time favorite series. I get so excited thinking of the legendary artists that worked on those series. Jim (Warlock) Starlin, Paul (Six from Sirius) Gulacy, Howard (Cody Starbuck) Chaykin, Carmine (Flash) Infantino, Al (Flash Gordon) Williamson and the list goes on and on. Fantastic!

Previous to those comics, I learned what a great comic book artist the young Gene Day was. Star*Reach #15 showcased Gene's powerful art with cool stuff like "Warriors!" Star*Reach helped to expand my love of comics outside the superhero realm.

Definitely my favorite Leialoha piece!

All wrapped up, in one of his best covers, by Steve (Coyote) Leialoha.

Enjoy!

Whether it's the original or the classic series, I cannot recommend Star*Reach enough!

By the way, in the third issue of the Star*Reach Classic series, Gene Day's Divine Wind was reprinted. Beautiful P. Craig (Killraven) Russell cover! This series also provided a nice checklist to the original series.

WEIRD TALES OF THE MACABRE #1

MARVEL PREMIERE #44 FEATURING THE JACK OF HEARTS!

After effecting a rescue at sea, Jack of Hearts is going home, to his estate in Connecticut. Once there, he receives an ominous invitation from Hemlock. Written by Bill Mantlo with art by Keith Giffen & Rudy Nebres. Recommended!

I SPY BY JOHN TIGER

Exciting tie-in novel by Walter (Telefon) Wager, writing as John Tiger, based on the smash TV hit series I Spy.

I SPY MESSAGE FROM MOSCOW BY BRANDON KEITH

Recommended I Spy novel by author of Man from U.N.C.L.E. The Gentle Saboteur Affair & The Affair of the Goldrunner's Gold.

CHARLTON PREMIERE #2 "CHILDREN OF DOOM"

One of my all time favorite comic book stories, by Denny O'Neil & Pat Boyette. Stunnning! Partially in B&W and color!